Begun in 2001, the winery is just minutes away from the village of Skaneateles.
Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
Tours: By appointment only
Group tastings (10+ people): By reservation

Growing new grape varietals is slightly less stressful for Eric Amberg than for colleagues in the Finger Lakes: For 50 years, his parents have raised and sold grapevines.

From the outside, Arbor Hill Winery’s retail shop resembles a 19th-century general store. But on the inside, the shop is a gourmet goody land, packed to the rafters with wine and Arbor Hill specialty foods, like Cabernet-chocolate sauce, grape-pie...

After 35 years of growing grapes in the Finger Lakes, no one would blame Ann and John Martini if they decided to take it easy. Yet the owners of Anthony Road Wine Co. in Penn Yan, Yates County, show little interest in slowing down.

Winery owner Joe Gober Jr. enjoys a good jigsaw puzzle. Even ones that take more than three years to complete.

Every vineyard is as unique as a fingerprint, thanks to its soil, slope, altitude, immediate surrounding climate and other natural influences. Wine geeks call this magical convergence of factors “terroir.”

Located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario in the small town of New Haven, Hurlbut Apple Orchards was established in 1928 on 130 acres of rolling farmland.

Arcadian Estate Winery’s main building is a 170-year-old barn that is home to a winery, a tasting room, a gift shop and a gallery, on the west side of Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen.

Slogan: Casual wine tasting, "wine without bull." The late Dave Bagley, owner and winemaker at Poplar Ridge Vineyards, saod he was often asked what "wine without bull" means.

Some Finger Lakes tasting rooms are thoroughly rustic, right up to the barn rafters; others have softer edges and even a splash of elegance.

One of the smallest wineries in the Finger Lakes, Barrington Cellars produces about 2,500 gallons of wine each year from Ken and Eileen Farnan’s 37 acres at Buzzard Crest Vineyards. Ken is the winemaker.

Atwater Estate Vineyards veteran Vinny Aliperti has tackled many roles – winemaker, husband, father, Peace Corps volunteer -- and now has added “winery owner” to the list.

Kicking back is easy at Buttonwood Grove Winery in Romulus, Seneca County: Visitors can lollygag on the outdoor deck, greet resident goats Trouble, Snowflake and Brownie, or chat in the tasting room with winery owners Diane and Ken Riemer.

The largest family-owned winery in the Finger Lakes, Bully Hill produces between 150,000 to 200,000 cases of wine each year.

Overlooking Seneca Lake, Bloomer Creek Vineyard is owned and operated by wine grower Kim Engle and his wife, artist Debra Bermingham.

Apples and grapes seem like closer cousins after visiting Bellwether Cidery in Trumansburg, Tompkins County.

Although a few Finger Lakes wineries make concessions to teetotaling toddlers with such diversions as toy boxes (Anthony Road Wine Company) and outdoor play sets (Lakewood Vineyards), such kiddie perks are more of an afterthought than a tasting room...

At Caywood Vineyards, you can enjoy tastings in a restored 1800s barn and grape packing house overlooking a large vinifera vineyard with a grand view of Seneca Lake.

Wine and the arts have always gone together, says winery founder Coralee Burch.
So adding an art gallery and a winery in 1998 to an 1830s farmhouse seemed natural for the retired communications professor and her late husband, David Hannie.

Fred Frank has worked with grapes for decades, so why is the word “banana” giving the owner of Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars a rosy glow?

Though Chris Scholomiti is a commercial winemaker, he says he identifies with home vintners who pursue their craft purely for pleasure, not profit. Scholomiti’s sentiments aren’t surprising, considering that he spent much of his youth in the 1950s...

Many fates could befall a grape left on the vine past harvest in the Finger Lakes: It might grow a beard of gray mold, get cracked skin, or be devoured by a wild turkey.

The Challen family has owned Cayuga Ridge Winery since 1991.
Tom Challen’s background in the grape and wine industry spans 30 years, from the Niagara Peninsula of Canada to the pristine growing conditions of the Finger Lakes.

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1980, Tim Miller went to work on a Finger Lakes winery's bottling line. Soaking up all he could, he steadily rose through the ranks to become the assistant winemaker.

Thirty years ago, Patrice DeMay had a crack at Olympic glory. But he found the prospect of becoming a winemaker more alluring.

One of the newest Seneca Lake wineries, Catharine Valley is a family-owned and operated farm winery delivering domestic and Alsatian-style varietal wines.

Fresh air, cobalt-blue water and rolling terrain. No wonder a Swiss family concluded in 1983 that Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, would be an ideal spot for an Alpine winery and restaurant.

Lou Damiani and Phil Davis love red wine. So what are they doing in the Finger Lakes? “I think we’ve convinced a lot of people who were real skeptics – real doubters – that New York state could make some high-end, classy red wines,” Damiani says

What is a man with degrees in electrical engineering and applied math doing in the a vineyard high above Conesus Lake?

Torrey Ridge, owned by John and Esther Earle, sells nearly 30 varieties of wine at its winery off the west side of Seneca Lake.

Above the western shore of Hemlock Lake, Eagle Crest Vineyards is one of America’s oldest wineries, producing small-batch table wines from 100% Finger Lakes-grown grapes.

Frontenac Point Vineyard, owned by Jim and Carol Doolittle, is on the west shore of Cayuga Lake on Route 89, 12 miles north of Ithaca.

Tending to the same land as his 19th-century ancestors did, Sayre Fulkerson opened Fulkerson Wine Cellars with his wife Nancy in 1989.

Situated high on Torrey Ridge overlooking one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake is Fox Run Vineyards, with its 60 acres producing a range of wines.

Some workers at Four Chimneys Farm Winery fly in for their shifts. Others spend overnights under the stars.

In the historic Bay House on the grounds of Sonnenberg Gardens, the Finger Lakes Wine Center is a showcase for area wineries.

Glenhaven Farm Winery is located near the small village of Trumansburg in the Finger Lakes region of New York. You can taste and purchase wines at the farm during the fresh blueberry season..
Peak season operating hours

Glenora Wine Cellars, the first winery on Seneca Lake, watched as the Napa Valley evolved into a first-class place to do more than sip wine.
Glenora has opened a restaurant and 30-room inn.

When the Peterson Family began laying plans for a second winery in the Finger Lakes, they decided the business should have a clear-cut identity.

Grape juice fermenting in tanks or barrels at a winery is like liquid gold, symbolizing the business’s economic future. Accordingly, every stage of wine production must be taken seriously, since one wrong move might turn thousands of gallons into tangy...

Heads up, wine lovers! A Keuka Lake landmark is about to spread its wings.

Confidence has fueled Hermann Wiemer’s career – especially on a day 32 years ago, when he bought a rundown soybean farm near Seneca Lake. Today, the property’s vineyards produce 12,000 cases of wine, and the German-born winemaker feels lucky that he...

Six generations of Hazlitts have grown grapes on Seneca Lake’s eastern shore, yet their winery in Hector, Schuyler County, bears no sign of snobbery. In fact, it is the only winery in the area that serves popcorn.

Interested in taking a swipe at summer’s swelter?
Just think pink.

Diners at the James Beard House – the esteemed culinary center in New York City – got a taste of the Finger Lakes’ bounty in March 2005, when the 2003 Hunt Country Vineyards Dry Riesling was served with Chesapeake Bay blue crab. News of the pairing...

Working from connections established through his day job as a vineyard manager and grower-relations director for Constellation, Tim Moore buys grapes from Seneca and Keuka Lake growers who practice sustainable farming.

Keuka Lake Vineyards, owned by Melvin Goldman, has been open since July 2007. Its wine specialties are Riesling, Dry Vignoles and Leon Millot. Tour buses are welcome with advance reservations.

Though some in the Finger Lakes wine industry bristle at the idea of working with anything but European vinifera grapes, Knapp Vineyards co-owner Gene Pierce says sweeter wines made from native grapes play an important role.

With help from their kids and 13 staffers, Len Wiltberger, who left a 30-year Kodak career, and his wife Judy now produce 20,000 gallons of wine annually and manage 10 acres of vineyards.

Lindsay Stevens says her new job as winemaker at King Ferry Winery, on the east side of Cayuga Lake, feels like a homecoming. Her perspective isn’t surprising, considering she spent many summers as a kid just down the road, at her father’s lakehouse.

Starting a winery and a bed-and-breakfast in the 1990s was not a cushy project for Terry and Bob Barrett, but it did afford them an opportunity to throw their souls into a new livelihood.

On a seemingly typical day at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars this past spring, a longtime customer barreled into the tasting room to ask the staff if they had heard the news.

John Leidenfrost is a hands-on kind of guy. Equally comfortable swinging a hammer or sketching out a bottle label, the former Ithaca College art professor says running his Schuyler County winery keeps his heart thumping.

Gary Barletta spent 23 years as an amateur winemaker before making the leap to the pros. Now he produces 6,000 gallons annually at Long Point Winery in Aurora, Cayuga County.

American winemakers often contemplate their products’ food-friendliness, but few wonder if their wines could soften the spiciness of African cuisine. One exception, though, is the Stamp family of Lakewood Vineyards. They make mead (honeyed wine) for...

Stephanie Lucas Houck gets fired up whenever her family’s winery, Lucas Vineyards, debuts a wine. Houck says her emotions were running especially high during the recent release of Miss Chevious ($8.99), a dry white blend.

As Lakewood Vineyards in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, approaches its 20th anniversary in 2009, expansion efforts are gaining steam.

Lakeshore Winery, located on a farm that dates back to 1825, is owned and operated by John and Annie Bachman, who purchased the property in 1994 from the winery's founders, Bill and Doris Brown.

Armed with a cornucopia of regional fruit, Bill Martin is showing that wine can come from a spectrum of natural sources. That explains why the indigo-colored liquid glugging into visitors’ glasses at Montezuma Winery may look like a Cab or even a Zin,...

Peering into a glass of the 2003 Black Russian Red releases a flood of memories for John McGregor, co-owner of McGregor Vineyard Winery in Dundee, Yates County.

Old homes typically have at least a few secrets to reveal. But the 19th-century home of Suzy Hayes and Doug Miles has a bundle.

The six wines offered at Pompous Ass, located five miles north of Watkins Glen on Route 14, are made with local grapes and range from dry to sweet.

A certain set of triplets has started tugging at Tom Prejean’s heart, and he is eager to see how they will mature.

The Pleasant Valley Wine Company, located on Keuka Lake, is the first bonded (US #1) wine company in the United States.

Ravines Wine Cellars isn’t on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail map, so it’s the proverbial hidden gem for those who happen upon it. A small boutique winery on the east side of Keuka Lake, Ravines has attempted to replicate the spirit of Provence, a region in...

Red Tail Ridge Winery specializes in limited production wines. The winery is located on the western shore of Seneca Lake and we are devoted to produceing premium dry wines.
Hours: Apr-Dec, Mon-Sat, 10-5, Sun 11-5

Rock Stream Vineyards is one of the Finger Lakes’ newest wineries and it’s family owned and operated. The tasting room on Route 14 and Fir Tree Point Road opened on July 23, 2005 and is open 12-5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and 10-5 p.m. on...

The philosophy of Rasta Ranch Vineyards: Wine should be a fun part of everyday life. Rasta encourages you to "experiment with wine and food combinations and keep an open mind to new varieties."

First things first about Red Newt Cellars: The winery doesn’t have a pet red newt. But it does have a lively tasting room and a highly regarded sit-down restaurant.

Six years ago Amy and David Hoffman left behind corporate careers in southern California to revive a neglected vineyard in Penn Yan, Yates County. Because of their pluck, the couple has gained a loyal following and a deeper sense of purpose.

Positioned at the southernmost end of the Cayuga Wine Trail, near Ithaca, Six Mile Creek Winery is an excellent starting point to initiate wine touring.

Sheldrake Point general manager Bob Madill likes rolling up his sleeves, especially if it involves nudging Finger Lakes wine closer to the center of the spotlight.

After moonlighting at a Hudson Valley winery, David DeMarco decided farming was an itch he needed to scratch.
So he left behind his computer consulting work and the bustle of Manhattan to buy a vineyard on the west side of Seneca Lake in 1993.

"Red is all we do," says the sign at the entrance of Shalestone Vineyards. The philosophy of winemaker-owners Rob and Kate Thomas is "tune into nature, go with the natural ebb and flow of life."

Silver Thread Vineyard was planted in the early 1980s on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. The winery is about midway between the villages of Lodi and Valois.

Owners Sari and John Zuccarino opened Silver Springs Winery in June 2004 selling their 2002 red wines. They say they're striving to produce a taste of Italy as the passion for wine has been passed down in the Zuccarino family for several...

In a butter-yellow farmhouse on Seneca Lake, winery owners Marti and Tom Macinski carry out their duties like old pros, drawing confidence from the fact that top-shelf wines are being crafted throughout the Finger Lakes region.

Looking for a lush, fruity wine to serve at a picnic? How about a bone-dry brandy to cap off an elegant dinner? Both of these – and nearly 40 other selections – are available at Swedish Hill Vineyard in Romulus, Seneca County.

Dave Mansfield has launched three wineries – Stony Lonesome Wine Cellars, Passion Feet Vineyard & Wine Barn and Rogue’s Hollow Winery -- and folded in the existing Nagy's New Land, all within walking distance of each other, at Three Brothers Wineries &...

Thirsty Owl Wine Company is one of Cayuga Lake’s newest vineyards and wineries. The winery has 150 acres with over 2,000 feet of lake frontage on Route 89, midway up the west side of the lake.

As newlyweds in the 1980s, Wayne County residents Fumie and Jock Thorpe spent weekends strolling through shopping malls or going out for ice cream sundaes after dinner. Now they work most weekends and summer weekdays pouring wine at Thorpe Vineyard in...

Valerie Rosbaugh of Hector, Schuyler County, says grape juice courses through her veins.
It has been that way ever since she and her husband, Timothy, worked for a Finger Lakes grape grower decades ago.

If Esther and John Earle designed a family crest, it would depict a grapevine entwined around a beehive.

Tuscan cheerfulness radiates from Ventosa Vineyards in Geneva, Ontario County: The expansive tasting room is decked in hues of saffron yellow and terra-cotta; the cafe whips up simple yet satisfying fare; and the terrace is ideal for al fresco dining.

Villa Bellangelo is a family-owned and family-operated winery in Dundee, in the Finger Lakes region. It's on the west side of Seneca Lake between Glenora Wine Cellars to the south and Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards to the north.

Wilhelmus owner Boud Kuenen’s connection to winemaking stretches back to the 1950s, when he first watched his late home-winemaking father crush grapes at home, in Canandaigua.

Derek Wilber has earned his spurs in the wine industry. He’s managed vineyards -- nurturing grapevines and directing harvest crushes, he’s helped launch a winery and he’s placed his stamp on innumerable bottles.

Inside its poinsettia-shaped home on Seneca Lake’s eastern shore, Wagner Vineyards offers two ways to wet your whistle.

Wine-tasting jaunts are all about letting the good times roll. But a winery in Naples, Ontario County, effortlessly melds fun with an illuminating view of wine’s religious importance.

Woodbury Vineyards' flagship winery, established in 1979, is in western New York's Chautauqua County – but the winery also operates a tasting room on Seneca Lake.

Some Finger Lakes wineries are modern and sleek; others exude historic charm.

Zugibe Vineyards was established in 2005 with an initial planting of 23 acres of various vinifera grapevines. In 2007 an additional 17 acres were planted with Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger and the Austrian grape varietal Gruner Veltliner.